Eating healthy is something that does not come easy for me. I want to start of by saying that. In no way, shape or form am I someone who is craving a salad with a side of grilled fish everyday. It’s burgers and fries, pizza and pasta, and ice cream all day everyday. As with most people I assume. However, all that talk about eating healthy and how it can improve your health… well (un)fortunately it’s true. So let’s get into it.
Why is diet so important for your mental health you ask? The answer is how hormones play a role in terms of what you eat. Have you ever binged on too much sugar and then had that all too familiar crash afterwards. Well, have you ever not only had the crash but felt agitated and anxious afterwards as well. That’s where the problem lies. So let’s get into what exactly happens to your brain and body.
The Mediterranean diet is known to be the healthiest diet of all. Eating lots of fresh vegetables, fruit, fish and poultry, beans and olive oil are some of the examples that make up this diet. The reason it helps so much is that it combats inflammation in the body. The molecules that are responsible for the inflammation in your body affect things like energy and mood. When you eat a diet with large amounts of fruits and vegetables you keep your brain healthy which allows it to continue with the process of self repair. The brain has many functions and when inflammation gets in the way it’s not functioning at its full capacity. Many antidepressants are extremely strong anti-inflammatories.
Now in terms of hormones, we know that a diet high in saturated fats and sugar can weaken your response to stress. The crash makes it more difficult to deal with stressful situations which then makes your cortisol levels rise. All of this is really bad for someone who has anxiety or even a tendency towards it.
The last thing I want to mention in terms of eating healthy is that when you really begin the process of changing your eating habits and realize that what you are consuming is not only beneficial for your body but also your mental health, your overall mood is better as well. I feel calmer knowing that I won’t have to expect a crash later, or that I will become agitated or anxious because I had too much sugar. It leaves you feeling much more relaxed.
Let me know in the comments below if you’ve had a positive reaction for your anxiety when you changed your diet!
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